IUSB students and staff participate in Art Beat and the South Bend Jazz Festival

By: RACHEL NUNER
Staff Writer
rnuner@iusb.edu

Hundreds of curious community members will fill downtown South Bend as Art Beat and the South Bend Jazz Festival share a spotlight Saturday, August 29.
Beginning at noon, Art Beat is expected to attract a crowd big enough to occupy the entire length of North Michigan St.
The Jazz Festival performances begin at 3:45 p.m. at the Jon R. Hunt Plaza, located directly in front of the Morris Performing Arts Center. Admission is free to both events and all ages are welcomed.
The Twin Cities Big Band is composed of IUSB students and staff and is the first of six acts to take the stage at Saturday’s jazz show. The group calls itself the IUSB Jazz Ensemble throughout the school year but switches names to the Twin Cities Big Band for summer performances.
Director of the IUSB Jazz Ensemble/Twin Cities Big Band professor Darrel Tidaback first arrived at IUSB in 2002 to teach an electronic music class. Since then, Tidaback has taught many other music courses and eventually took over as the director of the IUSB Jazz Ensemble/Twin Cities Big Band in 2007.
Tidaback is a string bassist who earned his bachelor’s degree in classical performance at St. Mary’s College in San Antonio, Texas. He then continued his education and earned a master’s degree in classical performance at the University of Texas, San Antonio.
This will be the group’s third year performing at the South Bend Jazz Festival.
“It has been really fun,” said Tidaback, “The audience is always great and lively.”
Professor Tidaback chose some modern jazz pieces to perform at the Jazz Fest, some of which are composed by the great Charlie Parker.
Tidaback aims to thrill the crowd.
This year’s Art Beat will feature five separate performance stages and a plethora of artists. IU South Bend students, as well as many other local artists, have a chance to display and sell their artwork at Art Beat.
“Everyone who traveled abroad [this summer] to study photography in Italy will have the opportunity to show some art work,” said senior Allison Bidlack.
In addition to the South Bend Jazz Festival and Art Beat, there will be evening jazz performances during the week prior to the festival.
For more Jazz Fest information please visit southbendjazzfestival.com. For more Art Beat information please visit downtownsouthbend.com.

South Bend Jazz Fest 2015 evening events

*All evening events require a $10 cover charge